Arthur Conley“Funky Street” fromSoul Directions(ATCO 1968)—Reissue of his 1968 album mainly recorded at American Studios in Memphis. Arthur Conley co-wrote this with Earl Simms & it is about Atlanta's Auburn Avenue.

Amy LaVere“Red Banks” fromStranger Me(Archer Records 2011)N —Written by Kristi Witt & found on Amy LaVere's recommended new release. Amy LaVere will be appearing at Off Broadway next Friday (8/12). Magic City is opening.

Little Dragon“Little Man” fromRitual Union(Peacefrog 2011)N —Highly recommended new release from the Swedish Indie-pop meets electronica band. Yukimi Nagano is one of the more interesting vocalists out there.

Stevie Wonder“We Can Work It Out” fromwecanworkitout(Harmless 2005)—Sublime Beatles cover from 1971 recorded for Motown. Higher Ground: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder & Benefit for 88.1 KDHX will be taking place at Off Broadway in September (Friday 9/30).

Richmond Fontaine“The Escape” fromThe High Country(El Cortez 2011)N —Featuring the vocals of Willie Vlautin. This album is meant to be listened to as a whole with musical interludes, some spoken-word songs & a story that weaves through the entire album. Hard to really do justice with one song.

Rickie Lee Jones“The Gospel of Carlos, Norman and Smith” fromBalm In Gilead(Fantasy 2009)—Written by Rickie Lee Jones & David Kalish and found on this (largely) overlooked but really fine 2009 release.

9:03am

Randy Newman“Mr. President (Have Pity On the Working Man)” fromGood Old Boys(Warner Bros 1974)—"We've taken all you've given / But it's gettin' hard to make a livin' / Mr. president have pity on the working man"

9:06am

Joe Henry“Our Song” fromCivilians(Anti/Epitaph 2007)—"We push in line at the picture show for cool air and a chance to see / A vision of ourselves portrayed as younger and braver and humble and free."

Los Lobos“One Time One Night” fromBy the Light of the Moon(Slash 1987)—"The sunlight plays upon my windowpane / I wake up to a world that's still the same / My father said to be strong / And that a good man could never do wrong / In a dream I had last night in America"

9:22am

Iris DeMent“Wasteland of the Free” fromThe Way I Should(Warner Bros. 1996)—"We got CEOs making two hundred times the workers' pay but they'll fight like hell against raising the minimum wage and If you don't like it, mister, they'll ship your job to some third-world country 'cross the sea ..."

9:30am

Rum Drum Ramblers“Mean Scene”(Big Muddy Records 2011)N L—The Rum Drum Ramblers are having their vinyl album release party on Saturday (8/13) at the Gramophone. Mississippi Gabe Carter is also on the bill.